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six months, and the jamindar landlord in the hills would provide food for
the remaining six months. hus, the Badis made their living. Women used to sing and dance in the streets and men used to ish and make
maadal and tariya and earthen pots. Badi women would be invited by all, ranging from the petty
kings through jamindar, mukhiya, and ghadbudha, and began to be sexually
exploited. After being involving in prostitution in the Terai, they ceased to go to the hills and began to live permanently in the Terai. Prostitution spread to
such an extent that the family members such as husband, father, and brothers began to ind clients for their wives, daughters, and sisters. Men began to drink
alcohol and got involved in gambling.
In some places, women also began to decorate themselves to attract new clients. hey started calling men who they met on the streets, and began to
commercialize their occupation. hus, history shows that Badis were compelled to adopt prostitution due to poverty and exploitation from the kings and the
rich and powerful. With change in time, there has been some awareness among Badis and they are somewhat motivated to ind alternate occupations. However,
women who are already involved in prostitution do not seem to abandon it. A Badi activist of Dang doubts that the new generation would discontinue this
occupation.
4.1.2 Nathuni kholne
When a girl reaches puberty, at 12 or 13, her parents, especially the mother, arranges for
nathuni kholne ritual. hat day the girl is dressed in beautiful clothes and is made up. She wears a big nose ornament
bulaki that reaches from the nose to the ear. hen bargaining begins as to who will delower her. here is a
big presence of the rich and powerful of the village in this ceremony. Whoever pays the highest amount would unlock the
bulaki nathuni and would have sex with her. his is called
nathuni kholne. He could keep her for the next six months and would provide food and clothing for the girl’s family also. After six
months the girl would separate from the man. In the past, the amount used to be Rs. 500 to Rs. 700. However, it has increased now. In the past, the ceremony
used to be conducted against the will of the girl and the decision would be in the hands of the mother and the family. However, nowadays there is no such
bargaining and no beautiication. Today, the girl herself is in control and is involved in the bargaining. Also, no formal ceremony is done; rather the girl
would secretly bargain and agree to lose her virginity.
4.1.3 Entertainment
Badis are rich in the art of singing and dancing because this is their traditional occupation. Due to lack of chances their skills are being undermined. here
are many good musicians and composers, but they lack opportunities. Deepak Badi of Tulsipur complains that he has not been able to show his skills due to
lack of opportunity. Because they used to sing and dance at the palaces, they have a rich heritage of music and dance such as
kathak, kajari, kawali, thumri, mujara, dwarichar, gath, and ras lila. Badis have their own music such as kathak
melodytune and a sweet voice that can cheer up and amuse the heart. he kardan used in the past when entertaining elites is regarded as a symbol of Badi
history. here are ten diferent songs sung in Dashain that make the festival
entertaining, and the Badis play these songs. King Mahendra had given a medal to Saguni
Patar for showing her skills by dancing on a plate. here are Badis who can still sing
kathak, kajari, kawai, thumri. But as they have no opportunity in Nepal, they go to diferent places in India to entertain
and make their living. Even nowadays we can see people becoming exhilarated when Badi women dance wearing
kardan at weddings or festivals. Badis readily accept invitations to perform in diferent places in India; this is called
bira baneko. When they are in such preparation and rehearsal, they are not involved
in other activities. According to such contractual performances, they need to fully provide entertainment for whole night even if a performer is pregnant.
A woman from Srigaon had given birth to a child during such a performance.
Badis perform diferent songs for diferent occasions. For example, there are diferent songs for weddings, such as those sung during the wedding procession,
when putting sindoor, when departing, etc. Similarly, they sing diferent songs
on diferent months, such as kajeri in Shrawan, mangshire song in Dashain,
songs when going for begging, mukura, etc. For example, a stanza of Kathak
is as follows: “Why make me weep at midnight, I don’t see my love near me, I don’t see my love near me.” he following is a part of song informing the bride’s
father that the wedding procession has arrived: “he folk came, and so did we. We came with the procession.” It is notable that Badi musicians and singers
have no teachers; their ancestors are their teachers. It is believed that Durga Goddess becomes happy when Badis play the maadal and
tyamko. Horilal Badi reports that they need to play
damaha and tyamko at the Durga temple.
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4.2 Economy and Resources
